Overload clutch



Junell, 1946. r G. A. wALLER OVERLOAD CLUTCH Filed July 19, 1944 2 sheets-shea 1 ATTORNEY June 11, 1946. G. A. wALLER ovERLoAn CLUTCH Filed Ju1yi19. 1944 Y IN VEN TOR.

A forcing the coupling bearing terior conical Flg.4isatransv line I-I ofFig. 1,-

Y Fic.

l illustratev my invention Patented June 1l, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v v 2,401,992 l v ovEaLoAn cm'rcn George A. Waller, Mount Vernon; N. Y. ,Application my 1s, 1944, serial No. 545621` im. 19e-ssl 3 Claims. i

l This invention relates to an inxproved overload clutch and onecf its' obiects is to provide a clutch of this type, wherein coupling for driving connection between. units or parts is developed by the balls held in workingV position springs, and separation or uncoupling takes place under the ov rlcad on the drive when the bearing balls are displaced from their coupling position and then enter a raceway which thus permits free running, while the springs are per'- mitted to slightly expand. Another obiect of the invention is to provide an overload clutch of this timeA with means for balls to their coupling position and out of the raceway.

A still further object of the invention is 'the provision of a clutch of this type, with interfitting units, one of which is formed with an insurface and constructed with coupling sockets to receive the bearing balls and a raceway located in a portion of the conical surface outwardlyoi the coupling sockets which hasl a larger internal diameter than the diameter through the coupling'sockets, so that a smooth release will be obtained when an overload develops.

use of bearing by expansion With the above and other objects in' view the I invention relates to certain structions, combinations parts, clearly described in tion, and fully' illustrated in which? Y v 1 is'a'longltudinal sectional'vlew through the clutch with the companion imite shown in coupled relation for driving.' f

Fi'siZisasimilarview new and useful conand arrangements of the drawings, in

snowing thev man units separated and the bearing balls in theA raeewsy.

Fis. 3 is a side elevation, showing the clutch in coupled position A sectional view taken on ooking in the direction of F18. 5 is a similarv view, taken on' lineI-l of 2,1ookinginthedirection ofthearrows. Pil. 6 is an'end view of one of the-clutch Fig. 'I is an end view of the lother clutch unit.

Reicrrlnlto the acoom'panvim drawings which i desisnates a shaft and i Yits keyway. 0n this shaft the clutch unit 1 is mounted. and this unit includes the huh I. the and concentric-end wall or flange l. and the rin: Il. integral with thewall or the companion clutch sliding engagement the following speciilcav the proper or required engagement -means of the key coupling relation by means of plane through all the two rings will rotate 9, which is formed with a conical internal surface Il. The hub is coupled to the shaft 5 by i2, and this key is held in the set screw I3. The clutch ring l0 is formed with a plurality spaced hall receiving sockets flange 9, and'is also formed with a ball racewayl5, located in parallel relation. to the transverse of thevsockets, and spaced outwardly of these sockets in the larger internal diameter o i the conical surface l I.

The companion Ashaft I6 is formed way l1 anda sleeve with a keykey i9 so as to rotate with the shaft. This sleeve is formed with .external splines 20, spaced circumferentially from each other, and which have with the splineways 2l formed in the sliding clutch ring 22.

Thel clutch ring 22 is formed with a series of radial sockets 23, spaced equally from each other at right angles to the axis of rotation of the ring in the same transverse plane, and in each of these radial socketsl an expansion coiled spring 24 is disposed. The inner end of each socket is closed and the outer end is open. Against the outer end of each 'spring a hardened washer 25 is placed, whichis formed with a concave tace 0n one side to form a bearing for the 2l, Vwhilcl'iis slightly o! saidA G1808, 01'

thinner -wirefin order to obtain sprint` pressure.

-Thebearing balls are adapted to engage the ball sockets il. which are spaced in the ring il equallywith the sockets 23, so that the balls will sockets and have accurate one or more from thicker or the .ring Il will be coupled to the ring 22. so that together. and motion will be transferred from the drh'rixis shaft l tothe drivenshaftl. Y

on-'the ring I2, and entirely uncoupling the ring 22 and its shaftY Il irolzn'the ringvll drivinsshattl.-

Ivhas a driving lit with this shaft and is coupled thereto by means of the hardened bearingl ball rindiameterthanthe thepressuredef K'Imayplaceaf bearing In this coupled relation and its it is .necessary to the expansion j clutch may be denitely determined in gadvance,

s0 that the Clutch Will on .its sleeve,

balls proved overload the scope of the invention as dened in the claims of this application. v

ring, expansion springs in -said sockets, bearing' spring the with, said ring falce and provided with a series of semispherical other ring having form adapted to formdriving coupling channel for the balls in said other ring.

2. An overload clutch consisting clutch ring mounted on the shaft having an internal conical surengage the raceway from said iirst-named sockets.

3. An overload clutch comprising a sleeve GEORGE A.

4 a series of ball receiving sockets of semisphereal means with said balls, and a relief'.

of a shaft, a to rotate there- 

